Deputy Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo has emphasized the need for fair pricing of cocoa to prevent farmers from selling their lands for illegal mining.
Ghana’s cocoa industry is increasingly under threat from illegal mining, locally referred to as ‘galamsey,’ which has resulted in the destruction of large cocoa farms. It is believed that some cocoa farmers sell their land to illegal small-scale miners, who then convert it into mining sites.
Speaking during his vetting, Dumelo stressed that ensuring cocoa farmers receive competitive prices for their produce would serve as a strong incentive for them to retain and cultivate their farms.
He further highlighted the need for structural reforms in the mining industry to ensure responsible practices that do not negatively impact cocoa farms.
“Giving cocoa farmers the right price will deter them from selling their cocoa farms. The second one is also to restructure or structure the whole mining industry well so that wherever they mine, it wouldn’t be able to affect these cocoa farms. But I think that the main one is about pricing.”
